Pneumatic bottle cap removing device



Nov. 9, 1965 R. LYMAN PNEUMATIC BOTTLE GAP REMOVING DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1964 6 mm 6 8 \I 35 E 6% wk |1|I|| l 0 20 4! 4 ,1 12 o, 9n m M 6 2 .1 6 44 Ham 3 08 M% Hm w 6 8 04 2 /2 j [1 I i $9 Mv j K% ,a 208 M 4 v 36 22 3 m 48% United States Patent Ofltice 3,215,289 Fatented Nov. 9, 1965 3,216,289 PNEUMATIC BQTTLE CAP REMOVING DEVICE Raphael Lyman, Nursery St, Norwalk, Conn. Filed Jan. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 340,862 7 Claims. (Cl. 813.2)

The present invention relates to a mechanically-operated device for removing crimped-on metal caps from bottles, and especially to a pneumatically-operated mechanical bottle-cap removing device.

Metal closure caps of the type that are crimped over the openings of bottles, or the like, have heretofore been removed by manually-operated devices of two types. One such type is a cup-shaped device which is affixed to an upright surface and provided with an overhang that engages over the edge of the cap inserted thereinto; the cap being removed by using the bottle as a lever. The other such device is of the type in which a handle is provided with a projection adjacent one end that is engageable under the edge of the bottle cap, with the adjacent end contacting the top of the cap. In the latter device the handle serves as the lever and the cap-top contacting portion serves as the pivot. Both of the above devices of the prior art present numerous disadvantages. Both of the devices require substantial physical effort and exertion in their use. With both of them slippage between the bottle and the device is frequent, so that numerous attempts may have to be made before the removal of the cap is effected; a procedure which causes annoyances and occasional injury to the user. Also, the use of the foregoing devices frequently results in a violent and sudden movement of the bottle, as a result of which its contents, especially when charged, are partly emptied, frequently on the hands and clothing of the user.

It is the object or" the present invention to provide a mechanically-operated device for removing a bottle cap, of the character described, which may be operated without appreciable movement of either the bottle or the device, to thereby make the cap-removing operation safe for the user, both against injury and against the spilling of any part of the bottle contents.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mechanically-operated bottle cap removing device, of the character described, which is sure in its operation and avoids the annoyance of slippage between the cap remover and the bottle, and the need for repeated attempts to effect removal, as well as possible injury.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mechanically-operated bottle cap removing device, of the character described, which may be simply and easily operated, with a minimum of effort and physical exertion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanically-operated bottle cap removing device, of the character described, which is compact and may be conveniently stored and easily and conveniently carried in a pocket or bag.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a mechanically-operated bottle cap removing device, of the character described, which is of attractive appearance, of relatively simple construction; which is strong and sturdy, and which may be economically produced and used.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the bottle cap removing device of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical, sectional, and partly elevational view of one embodiment of a bottle-cap removing device of the present invention; shown as positioned over a capped bottle, in readiness for use;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the device at the end of the cap-removing stroke; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

Generally stated, the present invention consists of a cylinder and piston pneumatically operated from a pressurized gaseous fluid dispenser of the Aerosol type, which is supported above the cylinder, by pressing the dispenser against the cylinder, to move the cylinder piston and tilt a horizontally-disposed lever, one end of which is engageable under the edge of a crimped metal cap on top of a bottle and the other end of which is movable to press against the top of the bottle cap, so that upon movement of the piston under air pressure towards the bottle cap, one end of the link will press against a bottle cap and the other end of the link will pry the edge of the cap outwardly and upwardly, to separate it from the top of the bottle.

More specifically stated, the device of the present invention comprises a cylinder 10 having a relatively thick closure wall or plug 12 at one of its ends, preferably formed with an outer cylindrical projection 14, of reduced thickness, over which is mounted an open-ended sleeve 16 adapted to serve as a housing for a cylindrical container or cartridge 18 capable of dispensing gaseous fluid under pressure, such as a cartridge containing a readily vaporizable liquid as Freon.

The dispenser 18 may be of conventional type including an outlet nozzle 20 which is inwardly depressible to open a normally closed outlet valve (the outlet valve not thought necessary to be specifically illustrated, as such dispenser valves are well known and readily available in the market and do not constitute, per se, any part of the present invention).

The wall 12 and projection 14 are formed with an axial air passageway 22 therethrough, the lower portion of which is of lesser diameter than the outer diameter of the nozzle 20 and the upper end portion 24, to a depth less than the length of the nozzle 20, is of a diameter equal to the outer diameter of such nozzle, forming a shoulder 26. The outer end of the passageway portion 26 may be outwardly flared, to form means for guiding the nozzle 20 into position.

The cylinder 10 is open at its other end and houses a piston 28, in airtight relation, which may be effected by the ring seal 30 disposed in a peripheral groove formed on the piston. If desired, or necessary, a similar seal ring 31 may be provided on the end wall or plug 22 for the same purpose. The piston 28 is normally held in innermost position, against the wall 12, by an expansion coil spring 34, whose outer end is anchored within the cylinder adjacent the outer edge thereof, as by means of the lanced lugs 36. A U-shaped bracket 38 is secured by its web portion to the outer surface of the piston 28 in any desired manner, as by the screw 40. The bracket 38 supports pivotally between its legs the web portion of a depending yoke-shaped link 42, as by the laterallyoutwardly extending lugs 43, provided on such web portions, which are passed through appropriate eyes formed in the legs of the bracket '38.

The link 42 supports pivotally, by the free ends of its sides, one end of a bottle-cap prying lever, generally designated as 46. The lever 46 may be of channel shape, with its sides 48 disposed in dependent position, and may e pivoted on the yoke 42 by appropriately disposed openings 50 formed in the sides 48 of the lever, at one end, which are engaged over preferably integral inwardlyextending lugs 52 formed on the end of the arms of the yoke 42. The other end of the lever 46 is pivoted on the cylinder, referably between a pair of spaced arms 54', which are secured to the side of the cylinder 10, in longitudinally-extending relation thereto, and extend a substantial distance below cylinder 10. The pivoting of, the lever 46, on the arms 54, may be efiected by means of a pin or rivet 56 passing through the arms 54 and the sides 48 of the lever 46. The pivoting of the lever 46 on the arms 54. is arranged to be at a point below the point of pivot of the lever on the yoke 42, when the piston 28 is at rest in its innermost position within the cylinder 10. The edges of the sides 48 of the lever are formed with a recess extending diagonally inwardly toward the pivot 58, to form a pair of sharp-ended hooks 60, facing the other end of the lever 46, which are adapted to engage under the edge of a metal cap 62, crimped over the edge of the neck of a bottle 64. The arms 54 may extend a distance below the pivot 56 and may be provided with inwardly-oifset ends 66, which may be interconnected, arranged to engage against the neck of a bottle to dispose it in position for the engagement of the edge of the cap by the hook 60.

Having described the construction of the bottle cap removing device of the present invention, its manner of operation will now be made clear:

A cartridge 18 containing Freon, or the like, is insert-ed into the sleeve 16 wit-h the nozzle 20 inwardly directed and inserted into the upper section 24 of the passageway 22, whereinto it is guided by the flare at the end of the passageway section 24, until the nozzle rests on the shoulder 26. The device is then disposed, on a bottle preferably placed on a supporting surface, as a table, with the forward edges of the sides 48 of the lever 46 resting on the cap 62 and the hooks 60 thereof engaged under the crimped edge of the cap. When the device is in place, as described, the end of the cartridge 18 projecting from the cylinder is depressed by the users finger, thereby pressing the nozzle 20 inwardly, to open the cartridge outlet valve and release gas under pressure through the passageway 22 into the cylinder 10, to thereby depress the plunger 28.

The depression of the plunger 28 will raise the cylinder relative to the plunger 28 and the forward end of the lever 46 that rests on the bottle cap. The raising of the cylinder 10 will raise the arms 54 with it, causing the outer end of the lever, including the hooks 60, to rise relative to the bottle, thereby spreading the crimps of the cap 62 and lifting it from the bottle. It may here also be stated that the same operation, with the same result, may also be attained when the bottle is held in one hand and the device held in and manipulated by the other hand.

This completes the description of the pneumatic capremoving device of the present invention and the method in which it operates. It will be readily apparent that such device may be operated with a minimum of eifort; that it may be operated with a positive engagement of the cap with a minimum likelihood of slippage; and that it may be operated with a minimum of disturbance of the bottle and its contents, and a minimum of risk to the user, whose hands are at no time in close proximity to any part of the device that may injure them.

It will b further apparent that numerous variations and modifications in the bottle cap removing device of the present invention may be made by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth, without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such variations and modifications that may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A device for removing a crimped cap from the top of a container on which it is secured, comprising a cylinder having a thick-walled closure at one end and an air passageway formed axially through said closure, said air passageway having an outer portion of greater diameter than its inner portion forming a shoulder, said outer portion adapted to receive the depressible valveopening nozzle of a cartridge capable of discharging gaseous fluid under pressure, a piston within said cylinder, means normally resiliently retaining said piston in innermost position within said cylinder, means movable with said cylinder adapted to be rested on top of a cap to be removed when said cylinder is in innermost position, hook means mounted on said cylinder adapted to engage under the edge of said cap when said cap-contacting means is disposed on said cap, said piston moves outwardly within said cylinder when gaseous fluid under pressure is discharged into said passageway to move said cylinder away from said cap and lift said cap from said container.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein means are provided on the exterior of said cylinder for retaining said cartridge in position with its nozzle within said passageway.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said closure has a portion thereof projecting above said cylinder and a sleeve housing for the cartridge is secured to said projection.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said means adapted to rest on said bottle cap and said hooks are integrally formed and comprise a lever having a cap-contacting portion at one end and cap-edge engaging hook means at its other end, a link pivotally connected to the outer end of said piston and a projection extending from said cylinder at its open end, said first end of said lever pivotally connected to said link and said other end of said cylinder pivoted on said projection.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said link is yokeshaped and said lever is channel-shaped, and is pivotally supported with its sides outwardly extending, and wherein said hook means are provided on each of the sides thereof.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said projection below said cylinder comprises a pair of spaced arms, secured on the Wall of said cylinder, said other end of said lever pivoted on and between said spaced arms.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises an expansion coil spring disposed within said cylinder outwardly of said piston, and means are provided at the opening of said cylinder for abutting the other end of said spring and retaining it within said cylinder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,709,936 6/55 Brennan 813.2

2,747,443 5/56 Vandre 81-3.2

2,913,937 11/59 Benson 8l3.2

3,037,407 6/62 MacLaren 8 1-3.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,030,349 3/53 France.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR REMOVING A CRIMPED CAP FROM THE TOP OF A CONTAINER ON WHICH IT IS SECURED, COMPRISING A CYLINDER HAVING A THICK-WALLED CLOSURE AT ONE END AND AIR PASSAGEWAY FORMED AXIALLY THROUGH SAID CLOSURE, SAID AIR PASSAGEWAY HAVING AN OUTER PORTION OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN ITS INNER PORTION FORMING A SHOULDER, SAID OUTER PORTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE DEPRESSIBLE VALVEOPENING NOZZLE OF A CARTRIDGE CAPABLE OF DISCHARGING GASEOUS FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, A PISTON WITHIN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS NORMALLY RESILIENTLY RETAINING SAID PISTON IN INNERMOST POSITION WITHIN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS MOVABLE WITH SAID CYLINDER ADAPTED TO BE RESTED ON TOP OF A CAP TO BE REMOVED WHEN SAID CYLINDER IS IN INNERMOST POSITION, HOOK MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CYLINDER 